PROFILE: DJ DiabolikAl

I have most recently worked with MC DJs – Moose and Silvr. Apart from spinning individually, I guess the 3 of us make a good "commercial" team. Haven’t tied up with any event mgt company, though. Yet.

How and when did you get started in DJing?

I started out this year, post complete recovery from my 2nd death defying bike crash. I realized that if I did not actualize my childhood dream at least now, I only existed in mass.

How far do you hope the game can take you?

When I've opened for some international acts, it would just be the beginning of things to come!

Your current thoughts about the hip hop scene in India? Do you think there is something lacking and if so, what is it?

Hip Hop doesn’t really attract the crème de la crème out here. It’s the broke teenagers who make it to most of these gigs. At the same time, scenes differ in various parts of the country. For instance, Bangalore is huge on Hip hop. There's a very ghetto club out there that spins only hip hop, 7 days a week. However Mumbaikars need to have much more knowledge of what actual hip hop is. You know, beyond Pitbull, Akon and FloRida!

What lacks, is the coverage Hip hop gets in the media whenever there are big names spinning. If its house, everyone goes ga ga, even though they may not "get" the genre per se. It’s got more to do with the kind of crowd people want to be "seen" clubbing with.

Your current thoughts on the state of hip hop worldwide?

It’s gaining acceptance, more so with the older audience (by that, I mean people older than 19). They seem to realize if they gotta have fun, they gotta get crunk. Well not really crunk, but they most certainly gotta get down with it. That's what’s up :)

PS: And I guess what AkshayKumar and Sharukh are doing, is appreciable, by signing on the likes of Snoop, Akon n Luda! We may just succeed in converting the bolly crowd! LMAO..

Do you think Indian hip hop has a future?

It most certainly does, with super acts like the most recent Bombay Bassment gig (that I unfortunately missed but sampled over n over on SoundCloud) or hindi rappers like Ishq B cracking into the scene. Then there's the under dogs Yung Thug and Microphon3, who just need the right launch pad to spiral. And with DJ's like Shameless incorporating emcees in their gigs, like the Swagger Night at Rock Bottom with BHH's BobKat and Ishani, things will only get better.

Your top pick of the artist of the year (2010) internationally?

Drake. I thought his music is very earthy n brash at the same time!

Your top 5 hottest tracks right now?:-

1) Dirty picture – Taio Cruz

2) Tipping In the club – Nelly

3) Light up – Drake

4) On to the next one – Jay Z

5) All I do is win – T Pain

Best rappers dead/alive? Name any 5:

1) Tupac Shakur

2) The Game

3) Jay Z

4) Snoop Dogg

5) Eminem

Something that annoys you when you’re in a club?

When am requested for Bryan Adams or Bollywood, when am spinning hip hop!

Something you’d never do in your gig:

play the above genres of music

Where can we catch you next?

When my hustling lands me that next gig!

What can we expect from you in the near future?

Having entered the game pretty late, I have a lot of catching up to do. But then, I have my direction and goals sorted out. What you most certainly can expect though, is never to cease moving when am spinning up there. Cos when everything else ceases to make sense, my music takes over! I truly am invincible and arrogant. And no, am not exaggerating: p

Well i agree to wat Dj Diabolikal has got to say…the Indian audience still doesnt know the real Hip Hop… i think ur taste in hip hop is great, u’ve got the top 5 just right…Ur techinically perfect and i think u have got SHOWMANSHIP when ur spinning.. Cheers n all the best!!!!

Thanks Max, 39 and Rob, what’s the point if u can’t speak ya mind huh?
M actually pretty serious Throwdown, I mean he’s doing his best so he deserves credit.
Ma ladies and home boi, thanks for the support y’all
N what would I do or where would I be, without my mentor?!

DJ Diabolik a.k.a. DiabolikAL – You rock behind the console!! The arrogance n the attitude with the mixes.. Wooooo!!! It was truly a mesmerizing night.. I’ll soon have to take an appointment to meet ya